Cleaning apparatus with multiple and variable water supply



J1me 1964 1. R. NORSTRUD ETAL CLEANING APPARATUS WITH MULTIPLE ANDVARIABLE WATER SUPPLY Filed Dec. 27, 1962 m m R T my .1111 m m i 2 w mm9 v M wm mad 3 I. E Ff SR 4 w. i a J mmw 4 w H w v .d "w W 8, D 6 ME RHa Z. 3 m. N" m P. 1 h m5 M 5 m 5 J a iC w Q R a f m 1 x a a Q P u 6 E E4 R L 3 H M U v, M s0 4 N m f .6 M R Q 1 H w a h. H 2 M 1 l MQ W a m a Fa wl F v M W W H w Wm. rh. L r l L 4 5 o 8 I 2 4 FIG. 2.

United States Patent 3,139,238 CLEANING AIPARATUS WITH MULTIPLE ANDVARKABLE WATER SUPPLY Iven R. Norstrud and John H. Threlkeld, Britt,Iowa, assignors to Britt Tech Corporation, Britt, Iowa, a corporation ofIowa Filed Dec. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 247,612

5 (Ilaims. (Cl. 239-610) This invention relates to the field of liquidcleaning apparatus, and more particularly to the field of cleaningapparatus which is portable and uses a plurality of cleaning solutions.

Portable cleaning apparatus is particularly advantageous around servicestations and garages where limited space and facilities are available,but nevertheless require means for cleaning the engines and other partsof automobiles, machinery and the like. In the present invention,apparatus is provided whereby water may be di rected under differentpressures to the surface which is to be cleaned and the operator is alsogiven a choice of cleaning solutions, either using a detergent or soapsolution depending upon the type of surface to be cleaned.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide newand improved cleaning apparatus using water, liquid detergents andsoaps.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide simplifiedcontrol over the operation of the cleaning apparatus dispensingdifferent liquids.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide new andnovel cleaning apparatus having a plurality of water pressures availableto be dispensed by use of a divided water source.

It is still another object of this invention to provide cleaningapparatus having solenoid operated valves in parallel water lines tosimplify the cleaner construction.

It is still another objectof this invention to provide new and novelcleaning apparatus capable of delivering soap and detergent solutionsand water under two different pressures.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a new and novelmeans of connecting the water supply in parallel branches to givegreater control over the amount of soap which is being dispensed.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fullyappear from the following description, made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a hydraulic schematic showing the general placement of theoperating components; and

FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic of the cleaning apparatus.

A water line is connected to a source of water under pressure and forsome systems it may be desirable to incorporate a water pressureregulator 11 to insure that the pressure is maintained at a pressurelower than the line pressure. Incorporation of the water pressureregulator 11 is not needed where a steady source of water pressuregenerally having a magnitude of 75 p.s.i. or less is used. A conduit 12is connected between regulator 11 and a pair of conduits 13 and 14 whichcommunicate with conduit 12. Conduit 13 is connected to a solenoidoperated valve 15 and conduit 14 is connected to an adjustable valvesuch as a needle valve 16. Solenoid operated valve 15 has a coil 17which when energized by electrical current causes an armature 18 to beattracted Within the magnetic field of the coil and thereby open valve15. When coil 17 is not energized, valve 15 remains in a closedcondition and does not allow fluid to pass therethrough. Adjustablevalve 16 has a knob 19 or other suit- 3,139,238 Patented June 30, 1964that the flow of fluid therethrough may be restricted to any one of aplurality of positions which is selected by the operator as will beexplained later. Another solenoid operated valve 20 is connected toadjustable valve 16 by another section of conduit 14. Solenoid operatedvalve 20 is identical to valve 15 and has a coil 22 which when energizedcauses an armature 23 to be drawn into coil 22 and thereby open valve20. Valve 20 is normally closed and remains so as long as coil 22 isunenergized. Conduits 13 and 14 are connected to the outlets of valves15 and 20 respectively where they communicate with a common conduit 24which is connected to an inlet 25 of a fluid pump 26. Also connected tothe inlet 25 of pump 26 is another conduit 27 having its opposite endconnected to a check valve 28 at its outlet. Check valve 28 is connectedto a source of soap or solvent solution 29 through a conduit 30 which isgenerally a flexible section of hose which may be placed within a tankor container of the soap or solvent solution. In other words, the checkvalve is connected so that fluid may be drawn from source 29 but upon agiven fluid pressure developing in conduit 27, check valve 28 closes anddoes not allow liquid such as water from conduit 24, to back up into thesoap or solvent solution.

Pump 26 has an outlet 31 which is connected to a relief valve 32 at itsinlet 33. Relief valve 32 also has an outlet 34 and a discharge port 35.Pump 26 is of the type that will permit fluid under pressure at itsinlet to emerge from its outlet at the same pressure when not beingdriven. As will be explained more fully later, whenever relief valve 32is energized, the fluid therein emerges through discharge port 35 untilthe pressure within the valve drops to a point where the valve closes.Pump 26 is driven by a motor 36 through a shaft to provide the necessaryrotational power required by pump 26. A conduit 37 is connected to theoutlet 34 of relief valve 32 and is shown in broken section, it beingunderstood that conduit 37 may be of any convenient length to providethe operator with a nozzle 38 at a remote position from the rest of theapparatus. Nozzle 38 contains a discharge tube 39 which directs the flowof the liquid onto the Work to be cleaned and also contains fiveelectrical push-button switches 40, 41, 42, 43, and 44. Switches 40through 44 will be further explained in the electrical schematic foundin FIG. 2. It is generally more convenient to connect the switches 40through 44 to the rest of the apparatus through a two part plugconnector 45.

Switches 40, 41, 42, 43, and 44 are generally formed in a bank and maybe considered as a switch bank designated as numeral 46. This switchbank is composed of the several switches just mentioned which aremechanically linked through a linkage 47 so that when one pushbuttonswitch is depressed, if any other switch was previously depressed, it issnapped back to its original and deenergized position. Switch 40 isdesignated as the OFF position, switch 41 is the WATER position, switch42 is the RINSE position, switch 43 is the SOAP position, and switch 44is the SOLVENT position.

A plug 47 is connected to a volt alternating current line and aconductor 58 connected thereto is connected to one terminal of coil 22and is connected to one terminal of coil 17. Conductor 56 is alsoconnected to one terminal of a coil 59 of a motor relay 60 and isfurther connected to a contact terminal 61 of the relay. Anotherconductor 62, connected to plug 47, is connected through plug 45 toa'terminal of switch 41, to three terminals of switch 42, to a pair ofterminals of switch 43, and to a single terminal of switch 44. Switch 41has one contact blade, switch 42 has three contact blades, switch 43 hasa pair of contact blades and switch 44 has a single contact blade asdoes switch 46. Switch as does not have any electrical contacts madewith its terminals and merely serves the function of turning the entiresystem off as will be set forth in more detail. Conductor 62 is alsoconnected to one terminal of pump motor 35 and the other terminal ofpumpv motor 36 is connected to the armature of motor relay 60 through aconductor 63.

In order to apply power to motor 36 it is necessary thatv 44 wasdepressed, it will be seen that the pump is driven by motor 36 and sincevalves and remain closed, solvent will be drawn from source 29 andpumped to 'nozzle 38. Of course, all the relays may beenergized by lowvoltage simply by using a step down transformer if it is'desirable tooperate the control switches by low voltage.

In case it is desirous of delivering soap through nozzle 38, SOAPpush-button 43 is depressed and a terminal opposite that Connected toconductor 62 is connected by the Switchblade to solenoid 22 through aconductor 65.

Thus, water will be drawn through valve 20 and through valve 16, theamount depending upon the setting of adju'stable valve 16 and withconduit 39 in the soap solution, a mixture of water and soap will bedrawn into pump 26 and dispensed through nozzle 38. Since the soapsolution from source 29 maybe of different consistencies and since itmay be desirable tochange the concentration of soap in the mixture,valve 1% may be adjusted by knob 19 to produce the optimum mixture forthe cleaning job at hand.

Where it is desirable that water at line pressure be received at nozzle58, WATER push-button 4,1 is depressed and. a terminal opposite the oneconnected with conductor 62 is connected to solenoid 17 of valve 15through a conductor 65. Thus valve 15 is open to allow water to enterand leave pump 26 and upon a pressure build-up in conduit 27, checkvalve 28 is closed thereby stopping the water from diluting the soapsolution and preventing any socp from entering the inlet to pump 26.

Should it be desirable to have water at a pressure several times linepressure, water is introduced into pump by actuating valves 15 and 2i)and this is accomplished by-depressing the RINSE push-button switch 42,whereconductor 66 is connected to a terminal opposite a terminalconnected to conductor 62 so that current is applied to coil 17 of valve15 and conductor 65 is connected to another terminal opposite a terminalconnected to conductor 62 so that current is also applied to coil 22 ofvalve 2t Therefore, a full supply of water is received'at the inlet 25of pump 26 and is discharged through its outlet 31 and hence throughnozzle 38.

Inorder to stop the flow of any of the liquids from nozzle 33, it isonly necessary that OFF push-button be depressed and any of the otherswitches which were depressed beforehand will be automatically returnedto their off position'thereby' stopping the motor 36 and pump 26.

Whenever the pump is in operation, it will be seen that nozzle 33 isdispensing one of the liquids of the system, that is, either water,soap, or solvent and generally the liquid under pressure from pump 26will not be affected in line or conduit 37. However, should nozzle 38 ordischarge line 39 become clogged or any obstruction appear withinconduit 37 or beyond, and the pressure within the line reach apredetermined value, relief valve 32 will be actuated. Upon relief valve32 being actuated, the discharge port 35 will be opened and the fluidwill be expelled from the discharge port until the pressure in l conduit37 subsides and the relief valve is again returned to its unenergizedstate.

In operation, it will be seen that by depressing pushbutton switch 44that a supply of solvent may be used to clean a particular area anddepending upon the amount of water desired, puslrbutton switch 41 may bedepressed to give Water at a pressure below that of the case wherepush-button switch 42 is energized which opens both solenoids in theparallel line from the source of water. By adiusting valve 16, soap maybe dispensed at any given rate or any given consistency depending uponthe type of cleaning job to be done.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it will be seen thatacleaning apparatus has been disclosed which makes use of a parallelwater system to the pump to provide soap in the proper consistency andwater of the proper pressure. By the use of the invention disclosed theamount of soap being dispensed may be controlled by controlling thewater to the mixture and different types of soap may be used bycontrolling the amount of water usedwith the mixture.

Itwill, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention which consists of the mattershown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cleaning apparatus:

(a) pump means having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, said pumpmeans taking-liquid thereinto at its inlet and discharging such liquidthrough its out- '.let;

(it) how direction means connected to said pump out- .let for directingthe flowof such liquid against a surface to be cleaned;

(c) a relief valve having a liquid inlet, outlet, and discharge port,said relief valve being energized by the pressure at said inletexceeding a predetermined magnitude-to discharge such liquid throughsaid port, and being deenergized by said pressure dropping below saidpredetermined magnitude to prevent discharge of such liquid through saidport;

(d) a first conduit connected between said pump means outlet and saidfiow directing means, said conduit having said relief valve disposedtherein;

' '(e) a pair of conduits, each having a first end connected with saidpump means inlet and each having a second end adapted to be connected toa source of liquid under pressure;

(f) an adjustable valve disposed in one of said pair of conduits forrestricting the flow of such liquid into said pump means by apredetermined amount;

(g) a pair of control valves disposed in each of said pair or" conduits,said valves allowing such liquid to flow therethrough in one positionand'shutting oh the flow in another position;

(h) a check valve allowing fluid to flow in one direction only;

(i) a fourth conduit connected to said pump means inlet and adapted tobe connected to a source of liquid cleaner, said fourth conduit havingsaid check valve disposed therein allowing such liquid cleaner to bedrawn from said source;

(j) and a plurality of control elements constructed and arranged to becarried by said flow directing means, said plurality of control elementsbeing operably connected to said pair of' control valves whereby saidpair of control valves may be simultaneously opened I and closed andcontrolled individually.

2. The invention as set'forth in claim 1 wherein said pair of controlvalves are opened and closed electrically and said plurality of controlelements include electrical switching apparatus, said switchingapparatus having electrical contacts for energizing said pair of controlvalves are to be dispensed, otherwise deenergizing said control valves.

3. In a cleaning apparatus:

(a) pump means having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, said pumpmeans taking liquid thereinto at its inlet and discharging such liquidthrough its outlet;

(b) flow direction means connected to said pump outlet for directing theflow of such liquid against a surface to be cleaned;

(c) a relief valve having a liquid inlet, outlet, and discharge port,said relief valve being energized by the pressure at said inletexceeding a predetermined magnitude to discharge such liquid throughsaid port, and being deenergized by said pressure dropping below saidpredetermined magnitude to prevent discharge of such liquid through saidport;

(d) a first conduit connected between said pump means outlet and saidflow directing means, said conduit having said relief valve disposedtherein;

(6) a pair of conduits having a first common end connected with saidpump means inlet and having a second common end adapted to be connectedto a source of water under pressure;

(f) an adjustable valve disposed in one of said pair of conduits forrestricting the flow of such water into said pump means by apredetermined amount;

(g) a pair of solenoid operated valves disposed in each of said pair ofconduits, said valves allowing such Water to flow therethrough in oneposition and shutting off the flow in another position;

(h) a check valve allowing fluid to flow in one direction only;

(i). a fourth conduit connected to said pump means inlet and adapted tobe connected to a source of liquid detergent cleaner and a source ofliquid soap, said fourth conduit having said check valve disposedtherein;

(j) electrical power means;

(k) and a plurality of controlelements carried by said flow directingmeans, said plurality of control elements being operably connectedbetween said 6160-, trical power means and said pair of solenoidoperated valves and said pump means, a first or" said control elementsapplying power to said pump means only, a second of said controlelements applying power to said pump means and said solenoid operatedvalve disposed in the same conduit as said adjustable valve, a third ofsaid control elements applying power to said pump means and both of saidsolenoid operated valves, a fourth of said control elements applyingpower to said pump means and said solenoid operated valve disposed inthe conduit not containing said adjustable valve, and a fifth con- 5trol element disengaging any of said first, second, third, and fourthelements thereby disengaging said power means.

4. In a cleaning apparatus:

(a) pump means having a liqud inlet and a liquid outlet, said pump meanstaking liquid thereinto at its inlet and discharging such liquid throughits outlet;

(b) flow direction means connected to said pump outlet for directing theflow of such liquid against a surface to be cleaned;

(c) relief valve means having a liquid inlet, outlet, and

discharge port, said relief valve means being energized by the pressureat said inlet exceeding a predetermined magnitude to discharge suchliquid through such port, and being deenergized by said pressuredropping below said predetermined magnitude for passage of such liquidfrom said inlet through said outlet;

(d) first conduit means connected between said pump means outlet andsaid flow directing means, said conduit means having said relief valvemeans disposed therein;

(e) a pair of conduit means having one of their ends connected with saidpump means inlet and having their other ends adapted to be connected toa source of liquid under pressure;

(7) control valve means disposed in each of said pair of conduits, saidvalve means having different size openings allowing such liquid to flowtherethrough at different rates of flow in one position, and shuttingoff the flow in another position;

(g) valve means allowing fluid to fiow in one direction (it) conduitmeans connected to said pump means inlet and adapted to be connected toa source of liquid cleaner, said conduit means having said last namedvalve means disposed therein allowing such liquid cleaner to be drawnfrom said source;

(1') and a plurality of control means carried by said 7 flow directingmeans, said plurality of control means being operably connected to saidcontrol valve means whereby at least one of said control valve means maybe opened and closed.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said adjustable valvedisposed within one of said conduits is adjusted to provide the properrestriction within said conduit to provide reduced pressure within saidfourth conduit and allow such liquid soap to be drawn into said pumpmeans with such water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

4. IN A CLEANING APPARATUS: (A) PUMP MEANS HAVING A LIQUID INLET AND A LIQUID OUTLET, SAID PUMP MEANS TAKING LIQUID THEREINTO AT ITS INLET AND DISCHARGING SUCH LIQUID THROUGH ITS OUTLET; (B) FLOW DIRECTION MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PUMP OUTLET FOR DIRECTING THE FLOW OF SUCH LIQUID AGAINST A SURFACE TO BE CLEANED; (C) RELIEF VALVE MEANS HAVING A LIQUID INLET, OUTLET, AND DISCHARGE PORT, SAID RELIEF VALVE MEANS BEING ENERGIZED BY THE PRESSURE AT SAID INLET EXCEEDING A PREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE TO DISCHARGE SUCH LIQUID THROUGH SUCH PORT, AND BEING DEENERGIZED BY SAID PRESSURE DROPPING BELOW SAID PREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE FOR PASSAGE OF SUCH LIQUID FROM SAID INLET THROUGH SAID OUTLET; (D) FIRST CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID PUMP MEANS OUTLET AND SAID FLOW DIRECTING MEANS, SAID CONDUIT MEANS HAVING SAID RELIEF VALVE MEANS DISPOSED THEREIN; (E) A PAIR OF CONDUIT MEANS HAVING ONE OF THEIR ENDS CONNECTED WITH SAID PUMP MEANS INLET AND HAVING THEIR OTHER ENDS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE; (F) CONTROL VALVE MEANS DISPOSED IN EACH OF SAID PAIR OF CONDUITS, SAID VALVE MEANS HAVING DIFFERENT SIZE OPENINGS ALLOWING SUCH LIQUID TO FLOW THERETHROUGH AT DIFFERENT RATES OF FLOW IN ONE POSITION, AND SHUTTING OFF THE FLOW IN ANOTHER POSITION; (G) VALVE MEANS ALLOWING FLUID TO FLOW IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY; (H) CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PUMP MEANS INLET AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF LIQUID CLEANER, SAID CONDUIT MEANS HAVING SAID LAST NAMED VALVE MEANS DISPOSED THEREIN ALLOWING SUCH LIQUID CLEANER TO BE DRAWN FROM SAID SOURCE; (I) AND A PLURALITY OF CONTROL MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FLOW DIRECTING MEANS, SAID PLURALITY OF CONTROL MEANS BEING OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTROL VALVE MEANS WHEREBY AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CONTROL VALVE MEANS MAY BE OPENED AND CLOSED. 